11.09.2026 In this investigation, *20 Minutes* sought to understand the flaws in a system at its breaking point. In 2026, the situation regarding animal abuse in France reached a record high, with 9,508 animals taken in by the SPA between July and August.
As much as 80,000 reports filed in a single year, shelters pushed to the breaking point, and a surge in cruelty cases. Whether behind closed doors or in plain sight online, animal distress has reached record levels. In 2026, the SPA (Society for the Protection of Animals) took in 9,508 animals between July and August—an increase of 20.8% compared to the summer of 2025. A record high. Although Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu unveiled a comprehensive action plan in July 2026 to step up the fight against animal abuse, why does the situation on the ground continue to worsen? Watch our mini-documentary.
🔴 Des refuges au bord de l’asphyxie et des cas de cruauté qui explosent
➡️ https://t.co/0EM1NJ25hk pic.twitter.com/FhpF6HvNax— 20 Minutes (@20Minutes) September 10, 2026
Key Points:
In 2026, the situation regarding animal abuse in France reached a record high, with the SPA taking in 9,508 animals between July and August—a 20.8% increase compared to 2025.
On-the-ground enforcement of the law remains inadequate due to a lack of training, resources, and availability among law enforcement agencies.
The underground online animal trade—particularly on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Leboncoin—is fueling a massive trafficking problem, with over 3,000 listings recorded in the Île-de-France region and sales disguised as “free giveaways” that bypass all oversight.
Despite this, the SPA recorded a 17.8% increase in adoptions compared to 2025.
The alarm was raised in the middle of July. As France faced another spell of intense heat, the SPA (Society for the Protection of Animals) issued a plea for help: shelters were at capacity. By August 31, 7,431 animals were still in the shelters. We visited a shelter in Évry, in the Essonne department, which takes in over a hundred animals each year. Some arrive traumatized. Others have been abandoned after years with their owners. Volunteers report receiving nearly six surrender requests a week. And when there is no more room, they have to turn animals away. Jennifer Peyrillaud, a shelter volunteer, tells us the story of a female dog that arrived with fractures in her hind legs: “All we know is that she was given away on Leboncoin. We found the listings. A complaint for animal cruelty was filed, but nothing came of it.”
The law exists, but the system falters in practice
In France, animal cruelty is a criminal offense. Penalties can include up to five years in prison and a €75,000 fine. However, there remains a significant gap between the letter of the law and its enforcement. Céline Gardel, a police commander and founder of the association *4 Pattounes*, is well aware of this challenge. She intervenes in cases of animal abuse and trains police officers, gendarmes, and magistrates on these issues. According to her, three obstacles constantly recur: a lack of training, a lack of resources, and a lack of availability. Yet, in 2023, the Ministry of the Interior created a specific role: the “animal cruelty liaison officer.” Approximately 4,000 police officers and gendarmes across France are involved in this initiative. On paper, the goal is clear: to have a designated liaison officer in every police station. In practice, these agents reportedly devote only a very small portion of their work to it—barely 10%.
How do these animals end up in their owners’ hands in the first place? We investigated a massive supply network: the underground online animal trade. Buying a dog or cat online today can be as simple as ordering any other product. Between September 2023 and June 2024, the organization Four Paws (Quatre Pattes) investigated the puppy trade on Facebook and Instagram. In France, the group analyzed 18 Facebook groups and eight Instagram pages featuring listings from unregistered breeders. Their combined audience exceeded 45,000 members. And social media isn’t the only channel involved. A search for kitten giveaway ads on Leboncoin reveals the scale of the phenomenon; over 3,000 such listings were identified in the Île-de-France region alone. Some showed irregularities regarding regulatory requirements, such as missing or inconsistent identification numbers and the absence of mandatory information.
The process can also be remarkably simple: on Leboncoin, we contacted someone advertising kittens from an unwanted litter as a giveaway. Within five days, an appointment was set to pick up the animal. The advertiser made just one low-key request via text message: 200 euros in cash to “cover veterinary costs” incurred up to that point. We went to the meeting spot. The kitten—barely weaned—had fleas and worms; it had never seen a vet. The animal was handed over without any checks on the buyer’s background.
When faced with a case of animal abuse, the first step should be to report the incident to law enforcement or call 3677, the dedicated hotline for reporting animal abuse. For those wishing to take in an animal, there is also a way to take concrete action: adopting from a shelter or rescue organization. After all, every adoption means more than just an animal finding a home; it also frees up a space. And things are changing: the SPA has recorded a 17.8% increase in adoptions compared to 2025.
So, what needs to change in France?
According to Céline Gardel and Christophe Marie, spokespersons for the *Fondation Droit Animal* (Animal Rights Foundation), there are several possible approaches. The first is to tackle the issue at the source by tightening regulations on the sale of animals. Among the proposals put forward are banning puppy fairs and cracking down on “gifts” that actually mask sales. A second measure involves creating a registry of individuals convicted of animal abuse or deemed unfit to own an animal. The aim is to enable shelters and pet sellers to better identify high-risk individuals. Finally, law enforcement officers need better training to handle such situations.